We began with more knowledge gathering at the FREE Sanctuary Exploration Center which highlights the spectacular Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 

Overlooking the ocean, the Sanctuary Exploration Center is located in the heart of the Santa Cruz's famed beach area just steps away from the city's Municipal Wharf. The center features engaging interactive and multi-media exhibits to help visitors explore the sanctuary's remarkable marine environment, as well as their personal role in protecting this special underwater treasure.
Exhibits are the heart of any interpretive facility. The Exploration Center uses state-of-the-art audio visual media to educate the public with several interactive video kiosks, film and touchable exhibits to engage the visitor.
I thought the Where does your water go? exhibit was pretty cool. This life size model of a classic Chevrolet station wagon and Chevy Volt rested above a storm drain big enough for kids to climb into. A video of motor oil and other pollutants washing down the drain helped visitors make the connection between what people do on land and what happens in the water. Graphic panels nearby define and describe this watershed and explain why clean water is so vital to life. The panels discuss the sanctuary's water quality monitoring program and talk about ways in which visitors can make a difference in their watersheds. Cool right?
I even learned about artificial reefs!
We came here to visit the Surf Museum, housed in this lighthouse. Unfortunately, it was closed today. However, I learned something about this community. Out of sadness, a new lighthouse was built here. In 1965, Mark Abbott died tragically. He went body surfing and never returned. Amazingly, Mark’s parents were able to turn their grief at losing a child into something positive for the community. “This lighthouse is further dedicated to all our youth whose lives, through fate or misadventure, are terminated before realizing their true potential. May their spirits find new dimension in the unknown horizons that await us all.”
I had no idea of the importance of this part of California. Since 2012, this has been designated the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve, which joined just three other sites to claim such status—Malibu in California, Ericeira in Portugal, and Manly Beach in Australia. Surfing started here in 1885. That summer, three Hawaiian princes introduced surfing to the world beyond Hawaii. They rode Santa Cruz waves. Crafted surfboards from local redwood lumber. They were here to go to a military school and really left their mark. The impact of their stay rippled from coast to coast and shaped the cultural identity of Santa Cruz County. Interesting right?



We heard these critters before we ever saw them. So cute!



We ended our day out by visiting the Farmers' Market. Great produce AND people watching.




Our home for these three nights was an amazingly wonderful airbnb. We loved coming home here each night and would totally stay again.